Who Do You Say That WE Are?

This is the sermon I preached for the 36th anniversary of Metropolitan Community Church - Las Vegas, October 26, 2014. Interim Pastor Rev. Wanda Floyd did the introduction.

Scripture - Mark 8:27-30

Personal Notes
Well, not bad for my first preaching gig in six years! It was a big honor to be invited -- I take our anniversaries seriously. Going back into Abraham Heschel (The Prophets) was a real treat for me; that one goes back on my "books to seriously re-read" stack!

My apologies for going on too long. I fell into two "rookie traps" that only became clear in hindsight; you other preachers/speakers may know about these. First, there was the moment when I looked down and saw that I was a third of the way through my notes and was sure I'd only been talking for two minutes. "Oh s* ... panic padding!" Then there was the end, when I realized I had reached my destination but couldn't find a parking space. Must've circled the block at least twice!

Anyway, many thanks to Rev. Wanda and all the folks at MCC-LV for their warm welcome! Happy Anniversary!

Rev. Wanda Floyd and me

Sermon Notes

Background - Jesus miracles of feeding & healing, challenging assumptions

Who do the people say I am?

         John the Baptist - the voice crying in the wilderness

         telling the nation to repent and prepare the way of the Messiah

TDP & MCC as voice crying in the wilderness

         crying out to Christendom to change … many thought MCC was just a means to open the other churches … people identified as "Baptist" or "Catholic" or "Jesus Only Pentecostal" or whatever … took some time before we started calling ourselves "MCC’ers"

         Some think like that today -- now that there are open and affirming churches all around (continue to pray for the Methodists!), other "options" … what do we need MCC for? “Mission Accomplished” (remember Bush!)

         John the Baptist knew that the crying in the wilderness wasn't the end of it … he'd been baptizing, seeing people repent … putting new wine in the old wine-skins (as someone would later say) wasn't what he thought he was waiting for/pointing towards

         MCC began to know that wasn’t who we were

Eliljah/one of the prophets

         prophets not easy people … flamboyant, hysterical, noisy … running around naked for 3 years, carrying around a yoke (pride parade)

         Heschell: prophets not mics, inspiration at the vortex of temperament … mission + power of word not own + temp, concern charac & indiv … the prophetic moment is by god's initiative, but in speaking through the prophet the messages also the prophet's pov … Jeffrey Keuss: It has been said that when God has something important to say, God will wrap it in flesh … God wrapped MCC’s message in OUR flesh -- although today's wisdom would rather bring a cleaner image to the table -- when it probably would've made more sense to have a bunch of nice straight people champion our cause, god wrapped this prophetic message in our sometimes inconvenient flesh to make it REAL -- God is here and now and in your face, the spirit moving among people the world (and sometimes we ourselves) would rather not see.

         Who do you say that WE are? There’s the problem of “not a LGBT church”

                  point of the prophets is very particular injustice … other traditional philosophers found it trifling that Israel’s God was more concerned with the problems of ordinary people than in the Big Questions of existence … prophets say that justice IS the Big Question of existence! While some may think “LGBT church” makes us trifling, God’s prophetic word is that LGBT liberation IS the Big Question.

         AH what prophets fear: a people may be dying w/o being aware of it; a people may be able to survive, but refuse to make use of their ability

         TDP saw a people dying -- true, our own LGBT people were dying, but the society was dying of *hate* w/o being aware of it (desensitized) … the church was not making use of its ability -- in fact the church was at the heart of the problem, key part of the hate-making  machine … the lgbt people who were dying needed to learn to speak up in its their defense

Who do you say that I am? Messiah

         Messianic secret / pentecostal secret

                  common healings vis homophobia

                  Bill Brady

         Luke 7:20-22 - what is the proof? (John the Baptist asks) The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy^[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

         Who do we say that WE are? That church – a church of power and miracles? Wesley story – “arise and walk?”

        

Who do we say that WE are?

         Are we the “til something better comes along” church? (Just as good as every other church except for what we do in bed)

         Are we the “can’t stand the sight of injustice” church? “The human rights church” in Global Justice is good … has a tinge of the closet (I’m a friend of Troy D Perry) … but on the right prophetic track …

But by what power will we continue that fight?

         Can we say, “We’re the church where God pours out a queer new spirit that you’ve got to see for yourself!”

         Or better yet …

                  Can w be the church where we don’t have to say who we are because it’ll be written across the sky in lightening?

International Day of Action Against Jamaica's Anti-Gay Buggery Law - Los Angeles

Support LGBT Jamaicans on August 6th!

Demonstrations at the Jamaican Consulates in New York and Toronto

and at the Jamaican High Commission in London

"Tele-Blasting" the Jamaican Consulate in Los Angeles

Jamaica's colonial-era, anti-gay Buggery Law has provided legal cover for extreme anti-LGBT violence throughout the country. Repealing the law is the first essential step in the effort to win full human rights and dignity for the country's LGBT people -- in fact, the law must be repealed NOW to protect their very lives!

Tell the Jamaican government that the world is watching! Join with an international coalition brought together by Jamaica Anti-Homophobia Stand, a Jamaican-based activist network, in a Jamaican Independence Day protest event.

New York

Rally at the Consulate

767 Third Avenue - 12 noon

Toronto

Rally at the Consulate

 303 Eglinton Avenue E - 12 noon

London

Rally at the Jamaican High Commission

 1 Prince Consort Road - 5pm

Los Angeles

VIRTUAL EVENT!

Phone/Fax/Email the Los Angeles Consulate

between 9-10am

Phone: (323) 902-7144
Fax: (323) 588-0336
Email: info@jaconsulatela.org

For more details, see

Main  Event Facebook Page

Los Angeles Virtual Event Facebook Page
or email info.jahs@gmail.com or justice@mccla.org
or call 561-412-9924

SAMPLE MESSAGE TO THE CONSULATE:

Happy Independence Day!

I support the repeal of Jamaica's anti-gay Buggery Law!

The law has provided legal cover for extreme anti-LGBT violence throughout the country, and your government has failed to address this ongoing crisis. Human rights groups around the world say that the law must go so that all Jamaicans can enjoy true freedom and independence.

So I'm participating in the 1st Annual International Day Of Action Against Jamaica's Anti-Gay Buggery Law.

LA Event Flier

“The Miracle of Sochi” (A Christmas Fable)

A gay couple and their lesbian surrogate mother escaping Russia during the Sochi Olympics.

“The Miracle of Sochi” was written to correlate with the Advent sermon series “Do You See What I See: Christmas Through Many Eyes,” as preached by the Rev. Dr. Neil. G. Thomas of Founders Metropolitan Community Church in Los Angeles. The themes of the five-part series are:

·      Through the Eyes of Doubt (Matthew 1: 17-25)

·      Through the Eyes of Longing (Luke 1: 5-38)

·      Through the Eyes of Wonder (Luke 2: 1-7)

·      Through the Eyes of Anger (Matthew 2: 1-10)

·      Through the Eyes of Worship (Matthew 2: 11-14)

Abbreviated versions of the five acts were performed during worship services at FMCC. Videos excerpted from those services will be posted as they become available … or see the archived Sunday worship services beginning with December 8^th at mccla.org.

Read the complete play at Scripped.com!

Tonight's Rally for Marriage Equality at LA City Hall

United for Marriage Los Angeles:
Light the Way to Justice!
Public Rally and Candlelight Vigil for Marriage Equality
Los Angeles City Hall . Sunday, March 24, 2013 . 6:30 pm

P R E S S   R E L E A S E
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 24, 2013


Tonight's Rally for Marriage Equality at LA City Hall
Mirrors Growing Public Support of Same-Sex Marriage
Public Rally in Downtown LA Comes on Eve
of U.S. Supreme Court Cases on Same-Sex Marriage


Los Angeles--To see just how far U.S. public opinion has shifted in favor of same-sex marriage, you need look no further than the iconic west entrance of Los Angeles City Hall tonight.

As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments in two same-sex marriage cases, supporters will gather for a rally and candlelight vigil to demonstrate public support for marriage equality.

"The growing list of groups and organizations supporting tonight's marriage equality rally in Los Angeles is a reflection of the shift in public opinion," says Jane Wishon, a self-described "straight, married, Christian mother of three," who is an elder in her Presbyterian Church and serves on the board of Marriage Equality USA.

The Los Angeles rally is sponsored by United for Marriage Los Angeles, a broad coalition of 25 organizations, representing faith communities, including The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, churches, temples, and clergy groups, a labor union, parent support groups, Latino and Asian service organizations, LGBT rights coalitions, community-based advocacy groups, and families and individuals who support equality and fairness for all people.

Public opinion polls in 1996 showed 25% of Americans supported civil marriage rights for LGBT couples. A recent 2013 Washington Post poll shows public support has climbed to an all-time high of 58%.

"A decade ago, this was controversial," notes Wishon, while surveying the City Hall site in final preparations for tonight's rally. "Who would have guessed that marriage equality would be the issue that brings us together?"

Groups supporting tonight's "Rally and Candlelight Vigil for Marriage Equality" at LA City Hall include: ANSWER Coalition LA, API Equality LA, California Faith for Equality, The Center Long Beach, Christ Chapel of the Valley, Congregation Kol Ami, The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, Equality California, Family Equality Council, Founders Metropolitan Community Church of LA,  GetEQUAL, GLAAD, Good As You, Human Rights Campaign, LA Gay & Lesbian Center, Latino Equality Alliance, Los Angeles Queer Interfaith Clergy Council, Love Honor Cherish, The New Organizing Institute, PFLAG National, PFLAG-Los Angeles, PFLAG-Pasadena, The Task Force, Transgender Law Center, UNITE HERE Local 11.


You will find additional details about the United for Marriage Los Angeles event at: https://www.facebook.com/UnitedforMarriageLosAngeles?ref=ts&fref=ts


FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, OR TO ARRANGE MEDIA INTERVIEWS, CONTACT:
Ari Gutierrez |  communications@LatinoEqualityAlliance.com  | 213-220-5530
Jim Birkitt      | JimBirkitt@aol.com                                                      | 310 272-3046


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Light the Way to Justice! Equality Action Video!

Just released by Light the Way to Justice ...

Make history happen!

Come to the LA planning meeting!

Los Angeles Equality Action Planning Meeting

The US Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in the two marriage equality cases on March 26 and 27.  Los Angeles equality advocates are organizing to participate in nationwide in demonstrations at sunset on Monday, March 25th and throughout the week.

Come to a meeting to plan and coordinate a broad spectrum of local events!

Monday, February 18, 2013 7pm
Founders Metropolitan Community Church
4607 Prospect Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90027 
map

Suggestions welcome!!! Post your ideas and/or RSVP in the comment section below ... or email justice@mccla.org!

Find out more about the National Equality Action at  

Light the Way to Justice!

Can Real Life Intrude on the GOP?

 Just some thoughts on the first day-and-a-half of the Democratic National Convention ...

In a strange way, it's almost like we've won something. The GOP was mostly mum on its pesky social issues -- Rep. Todd Akin had made abortion toxic, and new polling before the convention had shown that LGBT issues were just not working as a wedge issue anymore. As gay columnist Michelangelo Signorile put it, they stood by the rule "don't say gay." On the other hand, the Democrats almost can't say it enough -- and they aren't saying it with the apologetic "It's perfectly understandable why you wouldn't like this" or the too-clever-by-half "We're so cool for being hip enough to go there." They're grinning from ear to ear and saying, "They're here, they're queer, we're so over it!"

Now that doesn't mean we've already won civil rights protections or marriage equality or the ability to live without fear of violent repercussions because of who we are any more than Obama saying "hope and change" in 2008 meant we had already won single-payer health care or attained full employment or ended the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But in a way that transcends those harsh realities, it feels kind of like we've won the hearts and minds and the whole playing field has changed.

Is that feeling something that will soon manifest on the policy level? Will it pass ENDA or repeal DOMA? Can the conservative power-brokers keep counting on the support of their constituents on these issues? I'm thinking that the ambiguity factor has taken hold: that, like with their failure to allow for exceptions for rape and incest survivors in their abortion laws, the Republicans have hit the wall where people stop thinking about those evil queers who want to eat your children and realize they're talking about Cousin Tommy and the woman at the next desk -- not to mention their own kid. What used to be black and white is now revealed to have many shades of gray -- and even a rainbow or two. Real life may finally be overtaking ideology.